Friday, March 2, 2018

FREE Critical Thinking with Pattern Blocks Activity

Pattern blocks. I know what you’re thinking. When you inherited your classroom, there were gobs of these random shapes, maybe even a few buckets of them. You thought to yourself, “What am supposed to do with these? We only teach geometry and shapes for three weeks!” Well, did you know that pattern blocks can be used for more than just your three-week geometry unit? Pattern blocks can be used all year long!

The "What's the Common Attribute" activity involves critical thinking with pattern blocks. This activity can be used year-round and makes a great starter activity, especially during that three-week geometry unit. The only prerequisite skills needed are some basic vocabulary terms related to shapes, e.g. sides, angles, congruent, equal.

Here’s how the activity works:
1. Display the puzzler on a large dry-erase board or wall.
2. Ask the students, “What’s the common attribute?”
3. Provide think time.
4. Ask students to “turn and talk” to a shoulder partner, face partner, neighbor, or classmate to discuss the answer.
5. Have students share their responses with the class.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my "What's the Common Attribute" pack. It includes 5 puzzlers to use with your students. It also includes a solution guide. Enjoy!

Want to know more?

Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my "Critical Thinking with Pattern Blocks" series. Read it here!

About Me

I received the Crystal Apple Award from N.B.C. News. The "Excellence in Teaching" Award was given to me by the Los Angeles Unified School District's Los Angeles Educational Partnership. My Math Team won the first place trophy four times in the Los Angeles Unified School District's Math Tournament. I am most proud of my after school Accelerated Reader Program in which Huntington Drive students have read thousands of books each year.
In 2000, I became a National Board Certified Teacher and renewed my certification in 2009. I have been a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1982.
I sell Teachers Pay Teachers lessons at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Victoria-Leon/. I created the blogs, The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs, The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs II, and The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs III. Members of The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative work together to create and market their TpT products - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Best-of-Teacher-Entrepreneurs-Marketing-Cooperative-1054613.
Feel free to email me at vleon999@yahoo.com.